Having guests bring a dish this year? Here's how to take the luck out of planning your potluck:
• Make the turkey in-house. Birds don't travel well, and they take a long time to cook, so it's safest for the host to make the turkey or to have the guest prep the bird in the host's kitchen.
• Request that guests bring room-temperature or cold dishes. This way, they can handle sitting around on a buffet table (in case other guests, or the turkey, aren't ready to eat when they arrive). Plus, this way, you aren't shocked by late-arrival dishes that need to compete with your bird for coveted oven time.
• Specify on the Evite invitation if you want guests to bring their own serving bowls and tools. Also, if some guests don't cook, ask them to bring flowers, candles, extra cups and blates, wine or non-alcoholic beverages, even extra oven timers if multiple dishes are sharing oven space.
• Ask your guests to include any food allergies when they reply to your Evite invitation. That way everyone who's bringing a dish will be aware of any dietary restrictions.
• If room permits, set up your beverage station and dessert table away from the dinner buffet. This prevents traffic jams around the food and helps the overall party flow.
Featured Thanksgiving Party Recipes from Epicurious.com
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